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Big Data Download

Personal data: Who’s willing share it, and when

Big data is everywhere ... and whether consumers like it or not, their user habits, lifestyle and even healthcare data is being collected, used and analyzed on a daily basis.

While all that information can be useful, many consumers are still not comfortable with the idea of sharing.

Apple recently released its first transparency report in order to shine light on all the requests the company gets from the U.S. government when it’s looking for personal and private customer information. Such requests may account for some of the reasons that many consumers are torn between wanting to embrace technology and not being comfortable when it comes to privacy and security.

Tony Salvador, director of research at Intel Experience Insights Lab, said more people are willing to share their information online anonymously if they know the information will bring personal or social benefits.

Intel has found that 81 percent of high-income individuals would share anonymous personal information such as lab tests and health monitoring in order to support research. That compares with 71 percent of mid-level income individuals.

Only 66 percent of lower-income individuals are willing to share anonymous personal information, unless there is something to gain, such as lower costs for medications, Intel found.

Salvador said consumers need to be more data-literate, adding that checks and balances need to be applied in the digital world, just as in the physical world, in order for businesses to move forward in building a true “personal data economy.”

About Big Data Download

Big Data Download is a daily digital program that taps into the big data revolution to deliver valuable information to everyday investors and business decision makers. The show draws upon sources including Yahoo Search data, social sentiment and investing algorithms created exclusively for this program.